Outrageous!

[Andrea]

Linus (and anyone else that cares to jump in):

I agree with what you are saying about if TSA is assigned the job, they should be able to do the job. This situation indicates failure by several parties.

All that aside, do you feel it is important or helpful to show ID at the TSA security points? What is the purpose for doing so? It is the airlines that are tasked with comparing your name to the no-fly list, and you are not actually 'required' to show ID to the TSA if you don't have one (although I don't know how one would prove you don't have something).

Thank you for your input.

Andrea

[Andrea]

More food for thought in this Forbes article: http://blogs.forbes.com/artcarden/2011/06/30/time-to-close-the-security-theater/

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Linus (and anyone else that cares to jump in):

I agree with what you are saying about if TSA is assigned the job, they should be able to do the job. This situation indicates failure by several parties.

All that aside, do you feel it is important or helpful to show ID at the TSA security points? What is the purpose for doing so? It is the airlines that are tasked with comparing your name to the no-fly list, and you are not actually 'required' to show ID to the TSA if you don't have one (although I don't know how one would prove you don't have something).

Thank you for your input.

Andrea

Hi Andrea. You have done a very good job pointing out several key issues about travel and security. I've enjoyed reading your posts. Everyones for that matter.

It is *MY* opinion, that TSA is a very expensive SHILL, and not much more. As has been suggested several times, they are weak.

Airlines and airports do have *REAL* security. Trust me. However, it is not talked about. It can't be. Terrorists are too smart. Then there is always the copycat and the wanna be, which quite frankily, that is what TSA is there to DETER.
They have to look like they are doing something. I didn't read your link yet, but will. I'm trying to get my ass out the door. I just wanted to stress the point. The real security is in place, and it's not discussed for obvious reasons.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

Hi Andrea. You have done a very good job pointing out several key issues about travel and security. I've enjoyed reading your posts. Everyones for that matter.

It is *MY* opinion, that TSA is a very expensive SHILL, and not much more. As has been suggested several times, they are weak.

Airlines and airports do have *REAL* security. Trust me. However, it is not talked about. It can't be. Terrorists are too smart. Then there is always the copycat and the wanna be, which quite frankily, that is what TSA is there to DETER.
They have to look like they are doing something. I didn't read your link yet, but will. I'm trying to get my ass out the door. I just wanted to stress the point. The real security is in place, and it's not discussed for obvious reasons.

So, YB, is the real purpose of TSA to distract from the security that is in place so terrorists are surprised?

Andrea

[Dominique]

No, TSA has a function. But they are not our main line of security. Our main line of security is secret. As it should be. If airline security was openly discussed, it would be much easier to defeat it. And now, same will apply with the railroad and buses. Railroad is more complicated. As Amtrak does not own the rails, (highspeed excluded) they pay to run on
the privately owned tracks.

[tapu]

Hmm.... So in this case, TSA and "real security" let him by? Great.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

No, TSA has a function. But they are not our main line of security. Our main line of security is secret. As it should be. If airline security was openly discussed, it would be much easier to defeat it. And now, same will apply with the railroad and buses. Railroad is more complicated. As Amtrak does not own the rails, (highspeed excluded) they pay to run on
the privately owned tracks.

I don't mean to belabor the point but I don't understand what the purpose of TSA is, especially if we have a main line of security. Would you please expound on TSA's purpose.

And maybe you could touch on why TSA type security is necessary for passengers on railroad and buses when any terrorist action would be more effective in larger venues or used on the tracks and roads rather than the vehicle.

I appreciate any insight you have to offer.

Andrea

[T4Texas]

I think if people are going to be angry, they should be angry at the world politics and cultural movements that have placed us in this situation to begin with. We must do what we can to protect our citizens, even if that system is flawed, its still better than none at all. I would rather spend my time in airport security, with its lopsided methods that might reduce the possibility of my being blown out of the sky, than not do anything preventative. I also feel the whole system needs to be reworked given the fact that this is going to be our way of life from now on. The world has changed and we must change with it.

[tapu]

I've noticed, on a few threads, that people are kind of, um, touchy today....


Anyway, Yellow Band's brief outline of the difference btwn TSA and what we're referring to as "real" security makes very good sense to me. I have no objective data to shore it up, but it seems logical:

TSA is the "security theater"--it is there precisely to make people aware that they can't bring potentiallly dangerous stuff onto an airplane. This is particularly relevant in the cases YB pointed out: with wannabes, and copycats. Oh, and assholes. I would add, assholes.

"Real Security" is looking for organized terrorist incidents, involving bombs, hijackings, bio attacks, etc. And I can see how it would be ineffective, not to say 'dumb,' if they were obvious.

Andrea, if you look back at earlier posts abotu this, you'll see this mentioned. I don't know, but do you think it's not plausible sounding?

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by T4Texas

I think if people are going to be angry, they should be angry at the world politics and cultural movements that have placed us in this situation to begin with. We must do what we can to protect our citizens, even if that system is flawed, its still better than none at all. I would rather spend my time in airport security, with its lopsided methods that might reduce the possibility of my being blown out of the sky, than not do anything preventative. I also feel the whole system needs to be reworked given the fact that this is going to be our way of life from now on. The world has changed and we must change with it.

Using the logic of anything for security, do you feel that everyone should have to pass a breathalyzer prior to operating a car? There are far more drunk drivers killing people than there are terrorists attempting to blow airplanes out of the sky.

It is not my desire to argue with you (the collective you). I am really curious why we (the collective we) are okay with anything for security regarding travel but we are not up in arms regarding other issues that are far more common and have far more people dying.

Andrea